[TaylorParticipant]

I have read through this thread and find the words both enlightening but also very emotional. The choices being made often reflect those of the business world. Companies can chose to promote from within and honor the loyalism that their employees have given. Or they can chose to promote externally, which can leverage strengths and skills from those not fully acquainted with the culture of the company. This diversity can help bring new ideas to a team. Furthermore, it can help align those who support that person. And to me, this is a clear case of external promotion.

By bringing Kim in as Addison’s right hand, the BOS followers are now brought back in to the OOA, eliminating resistance to their movement. This is an insanely smart move. Furthermore, it brings in diversity, new ideas, and a different viewpoint to the leadership. Again, this is brilliant. If you support the OOA, trusting in their decisions and Kim seems to be the logical choice. I for one support this and am excited to see where it goes. I just bought my second ticket and will continue to look for my own answers, but I do know that currently, they have my loyalty.

• This reply was modified 8 years ago by  Taylor.

[TaylorParticipant]

Amie, I wish I could spend my second time through with you! Thanks for the warm welcome!

[TaylorParticipant]

I will second this! Even if the leadership doesn’t agree with dissenting views does not mean they should block them. If Mike and the others were being slanderous, rude, or inciting violence, I can see a need for such drastic measures. But they were eloquent and logical. They don’t need to comply with their words, but they should at least listen. It is our job as their followers to make them listen to. Together, we are powerful.

[TaylorParticipant]

I did not get to speak to him my first time in Ascension. However, every time he entered the processing room, all of the women would stand up and face the wall until he had left the room. He definitely felt imposing and powerful. I asked around, but no one in my group knew who he was. Guess this answers that!

Curious if I’ll meet him during my second time.

[TaylorParticipant]

I can second that. I encountered him in Ascension. Whenever he entered the white room, all of the women would stand and face the wall until he exited. I would tread lightly.

[TaylorParticipant]

Thanks for enlightening me to this situation, Mike. This does seem very counterintuitive to the transparency that she speaks so highly of. This is surprising and I now understand the frustration of those who seek answers. Patience may be worthwhile, but that doesn’t change the lack of honesty now.

I think ultimately it depends on what kind of leadership the OOA wants. Sad to say, but if they have a dictatorship, then we really have no choice. The leader will make the decisions and we will have to follow or leave, even if we are The One. And “good leadership” depends on what we mean by the word good? Do we mean effective? Do we mean fair? Or do we mean transparent? Or do we mean follows the will and opinions of its people? As I mentioned early, a dictatorship is extremely effective, but may not be fair, transparent, or considerate of our opinions. So if this truly is a dictatorship, we can let our opinions known, but they don’t have to listen. This opens up room for abuse of power. So time will show what will happen, but we do have options to join the BOS if we aren’t happy with current leadership. Actions speak louder than words.

[TaylorParticipant]

Ah, I’m glad you enjoyed your second visit! I do remember seeing the pictures on Instagram. I will let you know how my second goes, and if I plan a third

And I understand that choice fully. Reading Addison’s journal did reveal a lot of questions that I do not have answers to yet. I would love to understand more as I pour over these forums and meet many of its members. I do resonate well with the idea of equality found in the BOS. Valuing each person’s opinion and voice can be extremely helpful. I’m sure it helps with trust as well as you all are on equal footing. I’m glad you have an open mind and hope to talk to you further about these issues!

[TaylorParticipant]

I am rather enjoying this conversation, Mike!

Fear is an extremely powerful motivator. And a good leader can use their effectivity to either lift and enlighten or to oppress and dictate. And your example of Germany during the 1930’s to mid 1940’s is a perfect example of power used to further one leader’s goals. That is why regulation and dispersal of power is important. A dictatorship is the most effective way to lead, but that puts all power on one person, and people are easily corruptible, especially when hoods are involved. So spreading the power through checks and balances is the easiest way to protect against that, but makes leadership that much more inefficient.

If OOA leadership ever starts using fear and threats to get people to fall in line, you bet I’ll be one of the first to speak out against it and work to problem solve the situation.

[TaylorParticipant]

Hi Addison! I have heard many great things of you in these forums and through Kim and Rizzo. Nice to meet you!

When’s your second visit? I am going for my second on the 4th of November.

And thank you for sharing the viewpoint of a member of the BOS. Kim, has spoken to me of transparency, intelligence, and equality before as well. So I too am very curious how she incorporates these into her new role. As I said previously, I am all for all viewpoints to be considered, and when I first heard of the BOS, it did speak to me. I asked Mike for the opposing viewpoint on the OOA as well. I have not made a decision yet as to wear my loyalties lie, but I hope to make a decision as I learn more and see how the OOA adapts and changes with Kim in her new position. And for you, I do applaud your ability to listen to Kim’s reasoning and make your own decision. You seem like a man of conviction and I admire that.

I hope that Kim has a positive effect on the OOA and that with her guidance they can change for the better. My boss took a job within manufacturing because they were struggling, and he saw he could make the biggest difference there. If Kim can make a difference there and help take steps to make sure more people are not victimized, then it can be something people can get behind. Only time will tell.

• This reply was modified 8 years ago by  Taylor.

[TaylorParticipant]

• This reply was modified 8 years ago by  Taylor.

[TaylorParticipant]

Max, thank you for welcoming me with an open mind. I hope to be a new voice. Even if Mike thinks he made a huge mistake 😛

Feel free to reach out if you need anything!

[TaylorParticipant]

Mike, I am glad be both agree that she is not; and that we both agree that people should not follow a person, but rather follow their mind and/or their heart.

As for the concept of following a leader, I’m speaking to concept of “transference.” People follow leaders for both rational and irrational reasons. First, the rational ones are conscious and therefore, are well-known. They have to do with the hopes of gaining money, status, or power by following a great leader. If they don’t follow a great leader, the potential to miss out exists.

The irrational motivations are more influential because they lie outside the realm of our awareness, and therefore, beyond our ability to control them. For the most part, these motivations arise from the powerful images and emotions in our unconscious that we project onto our relationships with leaders. Sigmund Freud was the first person to provide some explanation of how a follower’s unconscious motivations work. After practicing psychoanalysis for a number of years, Freud was puzzled to find that his patients—who were, in a sense, his followers—kept falling in love with him. Although most of his patients were women, the same thing happened with his male patients. Freud realized that his patients’ idealization of him couldn’t be traced to his own personal qualities, but instead people were relating to him as if he were some important person from their past—usually a parent.

Thus, there is precedent and understanding for why people follow leaders that lies far beyond just their beliefs and logic. In a perfect world, everyone could form their own opinions and follow their own intellect. However, a lot of people are controlled by forces beyond that of their own consciousness and we must be aware of that.

Reference:
https://hbr.org/2004/09/why-people-follow-the-leader-the-power-of-transference

[TaylorParticipant]

Max, where are these suppression of ideas? I spoke of no such thing. I fully support all ideas to be voices and considered. Even the smallest voice should be considered. I would never let anyone speak for me. I have my own head, my own brain, and my own opinions. I am just commenting on things as I see them, and currently, that is from a position of logic, not emotion.

And Kim “twisting my arm” to get me here has nothing to do with my loyalties. Mike has asked me to be here for some time here as well. But I now have the time to be more active, and I look forward to adding my part. And I promise to always be honest, transparent, and helpful.

[TaylorParticipant]

I would disagree that Kim is a manipulator with the intention of getting people to follow her agenda. She has made her decision, and I believe that simply opens a door to those who are open minded enough to consider that a door is now open for them–but ultimately the choice is theirs. I’m sure Kim can add even more enlightenment to this situation. Has Kim publicly stated why she has taken the position? And I do hope you ask Addison. I’m sure you will let us know what she says.

And as I said in my previous post, I too hope that the Brotherhood does remain vigilant in questioning the OOA and providing an alternative viewpoint. Any organization can benefit from reflecting, regulation, and considering opposing views.

Yes, I agree that speculation has a place and a time, but it should be grounded in fact and precedent.

[TaylorParticipant]

That is a big assumption, and thanks for pointing that out. I don’t think people will follow Kim blindly. But I do think that if they had loyalty to her, it was because she was a logical, fair, and strong leader. And from my interactions with Kim, she has been all of those things and more. So with that respect and trust, if she was to re-join the OOA, then she must have a good reason to do so. Thus, if I was a BOS follower, then I would have more reason to trust in that and be open to rejoining myself.

So, I don’t think they will be blindly following, but I do think it opens a unique opportunity and facilitates a conversation to re-join for those members. Some will always be not happy and that’s a good thing. We always need people to question and regulate our actions. Group think is a very dangerous thing.

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